Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said he did not want to speculate on what heating bills the Lithuanian people will get this coming heating season. The Prime Minister is unable to say whether his government will manage to implement heating gas industry reforms, allowing heating costs to be reduced, alfa.lt reported on 20 August.
“I really do not want to guess whether expert predictions about price increases are accurate”, – Kubilius told reporters on Monday after a government meeting when asked what he thinks about expert belief that the coming heating season will be more expensive than in the past.
According to the Prime Minister, in Lithuania there are municipalities, which are well prepared with their heating gas industry.
“In these municipalities, the price for heat is almost one and a half to two times lower than the maximum prices, which it is in some other municipalities, including the municipality of Vilnius”, – explained Kubilius.
“Where there are possibilities for competition to arise between the various producers of heating gas, heating gas consumers win,” – continued the Prime Minister.
Kubilius argued that the government wants “long-term restructuring changes in the heating gas industry.
“This reform is necessary, despite the fact that experts with any opinion about heating gas industry reform were immediately critical, making one think that to the experts, the heating gas industry does not need to be changed. We do not think so, “- said the Prime Minister.
“I cannot say whether or not we will make it, because once again I want to reiterate that we see in the heating gas industry, as well as in other energy sectors, reforms, that are not short-term. We do not promise results will be achieved in a single day”, – answered Kubilius when asked whether the government will manage to implement the heating gas industry reform, enabling heating prices to be reduced this term.
The Prime Minister, discussing with the Cabinet a list of bills to be submitted to the Seimas, noted that the Government wants to see the debate on the heating gas industry reform at the beginning of parliament, but also recognized the possibility to adopt any amendments to fix these questions is almost nonexistent.
“We would like Parliament to begin debate on the heating gas industry reform bill, understanding that such a debate could take a little longer and we would not plan on implementing such laws until after parliamentary elections. But the discussion would be very valuable,” – said Kubilius.
Translated by Vytas Radze
